Humane cattle killers and similar manipulatable appliances

ABSTRACT

An improved humane killer and associated apparatus. The invention introduces into the known captive bolt pistol type humane killer means for pneumatically firing and ejecting the spent cartridge. This enables the pistol to be connected to pneumatic supply apparatus including a hopper, a cartridge orientating device, and a cartridge transfer device, whereby cartridges placed in the hopper are successively passed to the orientating device which ensures that each one is turned nose first into the transfer device which then transfers it to a pressurized feed tube abutting the breech block of the pistol and which serves as a magazine for continuous supply. Each time the breech is turned to the loading position a cartridge from the feed tube enters a cartridge chamber in the breech block. A pneumatic control mechanism senses a drop in pressure in the feed tube each time the breech block is in the loading position and this actuates the orientating device and the transfer device to supply a new cartridge into the feed tube.

United States Patent Hancox Jan. 1, 1974 [75] Inventor: Roger John Hancox, Burntwood,

England [73] Assignee: Accles & Shelvoke Limited, Aston,

Birmingham, England [22] Filed: June 26, 1972 [2]] Appl. No.: 266,254

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data June 26, 197i Great Britain 30,056/71 [52] US. Cl. 42/1 M, 17/1 B, 89/33 B, 89/33 MC [51] Int. Cl. F410 3/00, A22b 3/02, F4lc 13/00 [58] Field of Search 42/1 M; l7/l B; 86/46; 227/9, 10; 89/33 B, 33 BA, 33 MC [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,068,60l 12/1962 Arrowsmith 42/1 M 3,608,424 9/l97l Wiesc 89/33 BA Primary ExaminerBenjamin A. Borchelt Assistant Examiner-C. T. Jordan Attorney-Dwight H. Smiley et al.

[57] ABSTRACT An improved humane killer and associated apparatus. The invention introduces into the known captive bolt pistol type humane killer means for pneumatically firing and ejecting the spent cartridge. This enables the pistol to be connected to pneumatic supply apparatus including a hopper, a cartridge orientating device, and a cartridge transfer device, whereby cartridges placed in the hopper are successively passed to the orientating device which ensures that each one is turned nose first into the transfer device which then transfers it to a pressurized feed tube abutting the breech block of the pistol and which serves as a magazine for continuous supply. Each time the breech is turned to the loading position a cartridge from the feed tube enters a cartridge chamber in the breech block. A pneumatic control mechanism senses a drop in pressure in the feed tube each time the breech block is in the loading position and this actuates the orientating device and the transfer device to supply a new cartridge into the feed tube.

16 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTEU W74 3.782.018

' sum 1 or 9 PATENTEU H v 3.782.018

saw u 0F 9 PATE-NTEDJAN 1 m4 sum 5 or 9 AIA\\\v HUMANE CATTLE KILLERS AND SIMILAR MANIPULATABLE APPLIANCES This invention relates to humane cattle killers and to associated apparatus for operating such appliances. The invention is particularly concerned with pistol appliances of the kind comprising a barrel in which, during each cycle of operation, a piston is driven through a working stroke away from a breech block located at one end of the barrel, by firing an explosive cartridge previously inserted into a cartridge chamber.

It is one object of the present invention to provide an improved method of and means for firing a cartridge after insertion into the cartridge chamber.

Further objects of the invention are to facilitate and expedite, first, the insertion of a cartridge into the cartridge chamber during the initial stages of the operating cycle, secondly to enable cartridges to be supplied serially to the cartridge chamber for continuous operation of the appliance and thirdly to facilitate the ejection of the spent cartridge from the chamber during the final stages of each cycle of operations. Thus, besides making it easier to operate the appliance, the invention enables the time taken to complete an operating cycle to be reduced.

According to one aspect of the invention an appliance for use in the killing or stunning of animals comprises a pistol device having a barrel housing a captive bolt and a breech block located at one end of the barrel, a cartridge chamber within the breech block communicating with the barrel and an auxiliary chamber in which pneumatically movable means is accommodated, the auxiliary chamber being arranged so that when the appliance is conditioned for operation one end thereof registers with the cartridge chamber and the opposite end is connected to a source of compressed gas through a normally closed valve so that, when a cartridge is within the cartridge chamber and the valve is opened, compressed gas may be injected into the auxiliary chamber to impel the movable means into impact with the cartridge whereupon the cartridge is fired and gases are released to drive the blot end wise of the barrel.

Preferably, the pneumatically movable means comprises a firing pin positioned at one end of the chamber and a ball or equivalent solid member which is accommodated within the auxiliary chamber.

The source of compressed gas may be from a small cylinder attached to the appliance or other source.

Although, during the initial stages of each cycle of operations of the appliance, a cartridge may be inserted into the cartridge chamber by hand or from a magazine incorporated in the appliance, preferably the insertion is effected pneumatically and automatically by pressurized air delivered from the same compressed air source to which the auxiliary chamber is connected.

From another aspect the invention comprises the combination of a pneumatically operated pistol device of the captive bolt type, for use in the killing or stunning of animals, with pneumatic means for supplying cartridges successively to a cartridge chamber in a movable breech block on the pistol.

The breech block may be rotatable between a firing position and an ejecting position and one end of a flexible tube, of which the opposite end is connected to a source of compressed air, may seat upon and make an imperfect seal with the outer face of the breech block.

The point at which the tube contacts the block is in that path taken by the cartridge chamber when the block is rotated from either to the other of the said positions. The bore diameter of the flexible tube corresponds to the maximum cartridge diameter so that the cartridges can be pneumatically impelled along the tube.

The flexible tube may itself constitute a magazine but preferably means are provided for transferring a batch of cartridges, one at a time and nose foremost, into the tube from a storage hopper located at any desired distance from the device.

Since the said one end of the tube makes an intentially imperfect seal with the breech block, the pressured air is able to leak between the tube and the block with the result, as each cartridge is transferred into the tube it is fed along the latter until its nose contacts and is urged against either the breech block or the base of another cartridge. Further, since the cartridge chamber is empty, whenever the block is moved from the ejecting to the firing position and as the outer end of the cartridge chamber passes the tube end, any cartridge being urged against the block will be inserted automatically and rapidly into the chamber by the pressurized air.

If, in addition, it is desired to facilitate and expedite the removal of a spent cartridge from the cartridge chamber during the final stages of each of the operational cycles, a reciprocable extractor rod having a headed end which engages the rim of the base of each cartridge inserted into the chamber, may be provided in the breech block alongside the cartridge chamber, and a duct formed in and opening to the exterior of the breech block, may be so located that, when the block is in the extracting position, compressed air flows from the flexible tube into and through the duct and drives the rod outwardly of the block until the headed end abuts a stop.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a sectional elevation ofa pneumatically operated pistol type humane killer,

FIG. 2 is a section on the line 11-11 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic section through the breech block of the pistol of FIG. 1 on the line II-II of FIG. 1 showing the cartridge loading position,

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic section through the breech block of the pistol of FIG. 1 on the line II-Il of FIG. 1 showing the cartridge firing position,

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic section through the breech block of the pistol of FIG. 1 on the line II-II of FIG. 1 showing the cartridge extraction position,

FIG. 6 is an end elevation of an air feed unit used in combination with the pistol of FIG. 1,

FIG. 7 is a part sectional elevation of an air feed unit of FIG. 6 taken on the line VII-VII of FIG. 6,

FIG. 8a is a diagrammatic representation illustrating the operation of the air feed unit of FIGS. 6 and 7 at one stage of operation,

FIG. 8b is a diagrammatic representation similar to FIG. showing the operation of air feed unit at another stage,

FIG. 80 is a diagrammatic representation showing how cartridges falling base first from the hopper are inverted in the feed unit,

FIG. 8d is a similar diagrammatic representation to that of 80 showing how cartridges falling nose front from the hopper are transferred, and

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram showing the pneumatic system for operating the pistol in conjunction with the air feed unit.

In one typical embodiment of the invention a pistol 10 for use as a humane cattle killer or stunner is as shown in FIG. 1. The pistol 10 is of the captive bolt or knocker type and has a barrel 9 in which a captive bolt 11 is movably located. A cylindrical breech block 12 is fixed to and concentric with the barrel 9 to provide a unit adapted to be rotatable manually about its axis to turn the block 12 between firing and ejecting positions (FIGS. 4 and which will be described in more detail hereinafter.

The periphery of the block 12 makes rolling contact with a concentric, concave, part circular face 13 of a body 14 of the pistol. The concave face 13 spans an angle of some 80, which is some less than the angle through which the block unit turns when rotated from either to the other of said firing and ejecting positions. The concave face 13 is flanked on either side by outwardly flaring arcuate cam faces 15 and 16 formed in two lateral shoulders 17 and 18 provided on the body.

The block 12 is also provided with abutment faces (not shown) which abut stops on the longitudinal edge of the shoulders 17 and 18 to locate the breech block 12 in the ejecting and firing positions respectively. A spring urged detent 5 latches the block in one or the other positions.

A cartridge chamber 19 extends radially between'the periphery of the breech block 12 and an axial duct 20 which opens to the interior of the barrel. The chamber is so located that when the breech block 12 is in the firing position, (FIGS. 2 and 4) the chamber 19 and a firing pin 21 are axially aligned. The firing pin is generally cylindrical and is housed in a sleeve 22 inserted into a bore in the shoulder 17 of the body 14. An anvil 24 having a concave face which is flush with the concave face 13 of the body 14 closes one end of the sleeve except for a small hole through which the nose of firing pin 21 can extend. The firing pin 21 floats freely in the sleeve 22 which forms an extension ofa tubular auxiliary chamber 23 (FIG. 2). A lower part of the auxiliary chamber 23 extends downwardly from the shoulder 17 at an angle to the sleeve 22 but parallel to a butt portion 29 connected to the body 14. A movable steel ball 25 is also housed in the auxiliary chamber beneath the firing pin and is held at one thereof by a magnet 28 which has a hole through it. That end of the auxiliary chamber 23 remote from the firing pin 21 is connected by a nipple 26 and duct (not shown) to a normally closed air valve 27, the function which will be described hereinafter.

When the breech block 12 is in the ejecting position, the cartridge chamber 19 has rotated to a position just clear of the shoulder 17 and is no longer aligned with the firing pin 21. The normally closed air valve 27 is intalled in a housing 30 which is fixed in the body 14 of the pistol 10. The housing 30 is provided with an air chamber 31 at one end of which there is an annular seating surrounding a bore in the wall of the housing. The valve 27 is of the poppet type. It is disposed in the housing 30 so that its head is within the chamber 31 and its stem extends laterally through the aforementioned bore and is secured to one end of a co-axial operating shaft 33. The valve chamber 31 has an inlet 52 which taps a compressed air supply duct on another part of the pistol and which has yet to be described. An

outlet duct (not shown) leading from the housing 30 on the downstream side of the valve connects the compressed air supply to the auxiliary chamber 23 when the valve is open. The valve is held closed by the force of a spring and by the force of compressed air acting on its headed end. These forces urge the end of the valve shaft 33 against the inside face of a tapered plate 36. The shaft 33 which is parallel with the barrel 9 is slidable in a tubular sleeve 34 screwed into the housing 30. One end of the shaft protrudes from the sleeve. A sea] 35 is provided on the valve stem to prevent leakage of air from the chamber 31. The valve is operated by means of the tapered plate 36, the wider end 37 of which has a round hole which passes over the barrel 9 and is located in a gap left between an annular abutment 38 on an intermediate part of the barrel 9 and a fixed outer sleeve 39 provided on one end of the barrel. A spring biased rod 40 which is slidable in a bore in a lower part of the housing 14 is connected to an intermediate part of the plate 36 below the valve operating shaft 33 and urges the lower end of the plate 36 outwardly of the body 14. Thus it will be seen that if the lower end of the plate 36 is moved inwardly towards the body it acts as a lever which presses on the end of the shaft 33 so moving it laterally and lifting the valve 27 off its seating.

The outer end of the plate 36 is connected, by means of a Bowden cable 42 to a triggering lever 43 attached to the end of the butt 29 and it will be obvious from FIG. 1 that if the trigger lever 43 is moved towards the butt 29, the valve 27 will be lifted. This action will enable compressed air to be admitted to the auxiliary chamber 23 via the nipple 26 and the ball 25 will be projected against the end of the firing pin 21 to move the same inwardly towards the anvil 24. Assuming a cartridge 44 has been inserted into the chamber 19 and the breech block 12 has been turned to the firing position shown in FIG. 4, the cartridge 44 will explode and operate in pistol in known manner. When the valve 27 re-closes, the auxiliary chamber 23 is vented to atmosphere via a duct (not shown) so that the ball is free to return into contact with the magnet 28.

In this embodiment compressed air is fed to the pistol 10 by means of a flexible tube 45 connected to a remote source. The fledible tube 45 also serves as a magazine and feed tube for cartridges 44. The diameter of the tube is slightly larger than the diameter of the base of the cartridge.

One end of the flexible tube 45 is attached to the end of a spring loaded quick-release coupling generally indicated at 46 (FIGS. 1 and 2). The quick-release coupling is adapted to be connected to a rigid feed tube 47 which is slidable in a bore in the body 14 of the pistol. The bore and hence the feed tube are disposed radially of the breech block 12 in the same plane as the cartridge chamber 19. That end of the rigid feed tube 47 adjacent to the breech block 12 opens to the concave face 13 of the body 14 and is itself concave in order to mate with the face of the block 12. The rigid tube 47 is resiliently held against the periphery of the block by a spring loaded clamp generally indicated at 48. The tube is adjustably connected to the clamp 48 by means of a yoke 49. The periphery of the cartridge chamber 19 at the block face is provided with a small slot 50 (FIGS. 3 and 4) and when the chamber 19 is in line with the rigid feed tube 47 the end of the tube makes an imperfect seal with the block and air from the feed tube escapes through the slot to atmosphere every time the feed tube'47 and cartridge chamber 19 are aligned. This causes a pressure differential in the feed tube which brings about the instant movement of a cartridge into the chamber 19. A branch tube 51 connects the rigid feed tube 47 to the inlet connection 52 in the wall of the valve chamber 31 and hence the valve chamber '31 is pressurized.

To enable the spent shell of an exploded cartridge to be ejected from the cartridge chamber, a reciprocable extractor rod 53 is slidably housed in a stepped bore 54 which is adjacent to andparallel with the cartridge chamber 19. The rod 53 has a head 55 on one end which has a curved outer face of the same radius as the breech block 12. The head also has a claw-like edge extending laterally from the rod stem which, in the extracting mode of operation engages the rim of the base of a cartridge 44. On the end opposite to the headed end there is a co-axial stem portion which is of smaller diameter than the remainder of the rod 53 and which has a rounded free end 56. Thus the rod is provided with an intermediate step which, when the rod is in the retracted position abuts the step in the bore 54. The rod is of such length that when retracted, the end 56 protrudes slightly from the periphery of the block 12, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. This position of the rod 53 is assumed when the block 12 is rotated to the firing position. The 'block 12 is provided with a radial duct 57, which is of capillary dimensions and which extends from the periphery of the block to the step in the bore 54. As hereinbefore mentioned the block 12 and barrel 9 are formed as a unit and when the unit is rotated manually to the firing position by gripping the outer sleeve 39 the block is turned in the direction of the arrow 58 so that the outer curved face of the head 55 engages the cam face in the shoulder 17 and forces the rod 53 into the block 12 so that the headed end is flush with the block 12 and the rounded end 56 then protrudes from the radially opposite side of the block.

As the unit is turned in the direction of arrow 59, that is in the opposite direction, towards the ejecting position shown in FIG. 5, the rounded end 56 of the extractor rod 53 contacts and rides down the cam face 15 of the shoulder 17 with the result that the rod 53 is displaced axially, the headed end 55 together with the spent shell are forced outwardly of the cartridge chamber. Although, when the unit reaches the ejecting position, the base of the shell and the leading part of the headed end 55 are clear of the lateral body shoulder 18, the trailing part of the headed end still overlies but is spaced from the cam face 16 of the shoulder; also, the radial duct 57 in the block 12, is aligned with the bore of the rigid feed tube 47, so that a pulse of compressed air flows through the duct 57 and impels the rod rapidly outwardly. This causes the trailing part of the headed end 55 to impact with the cam face 16 with the result that the shell is freed from the leading part and ejected from the cartridge chamber 19.

As hereinbefore stated the flexible feed 45 may itself serve as a magazine and having been charged with cartridges all oriented nose foremost in the tube, the tube could be connected directly to a compressed air source. However, in this embodiment it is preferred to connect the flexible feed tube 45 to a means of supplying the pistol continuously with cartridges 44.

The continuous supply means comprises a cartridge feed unit which is generally indicated by the reference numeral 60 in FIGS. 6 and 7. The feed unit 60 comprises a hopper 61 mounted on top of a box frame 62. A batch of cartridges charged into the hopper 61 is transferred into the flexible feed tube 45 by pneumatically operated transfer mechanism controlled by an automatic, four way pilot valve 63 shown diagrammatically in FIG. 9.

The transfer mechanism shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 comprises a cartridge orientating gate 64 which is supported within the frame 62 in horizontal disposition below the hopper 61 and is connected to the hopper 61 by a fixed vertical tube 65. An outer sleeve 67 is slideable on the tube 65. The sleeve 67 is provided with a collar 68 which is engaged by a forked end 69 extending laterally from the ram of a vertically mounted air cylinder 70 so that the outer sleeve can be reciprocated on the tube 65 for a purpose to be described later. A transfer gate 71 is located directly below the orientating gate and is also horizontally mounted in the frame 62.

The body 72 of the orientating gate is formed with a horizontal cylindrically shaped passage 78 into which the lower end of the vertical tube 65 opens and along which a plunger 73 is reciprocable by means of a double acting pneumatic cylinder 74 (FIG. 7) the ram of which is provided with a laterally extending fork 169 engaging an annular groove in the end of the plunger. The plunger 73 has a diametrical hole 75 which, in one extreme retracted position of the plunger (FIGS. 6 and 8a), registers with the lower end of the vertical tube 65 and is adapted to receive a cartridge 44 from the tube 65, and, in the other extreme position of the plunger (FIG. 8b), registers with a circular aperture 76 which is formed in the underside of the cylindrical passage 78 and which opens into a horizontal channel in the body 72. The channel consists of an upper portion 79 which is co-extensive with the passage 78 and of which the depth and width exceed, respectively, the length of the cartridge 44 and the diameter of the rim of the cartridge base, and a lower portion 80 which is symmetrical to the upper portion and the width of which is less than the said rim diameter but exceeds the external diameter of the cartridge shell.

The aperture 76 in the underside of the cylindrical passage 78 is of an area which enables any cartridge received in the hole 75 in the plunger to fall through the aperture 76 into the upper channel portion 79 as the plunger reaches the advanced position (FIG. 8b). Consequently, if the cartridge 44 in the plunger hole 75 is disposed nose downwards, it falls through the upper channel portion 79 into the lower channel portion 80 as the hole 75 registers with the aperture 76, and the rim around its base is supported on longitudinal shoulders or rails 77 flanking the mouth of the lower channel portion 80. On the other hand, if the cartridge in the plunger hole 75 is disposed base dowwards it is able to fall through the aperture 76 into the upper channel portion 79 but because its base is wider than the shoulder 77 it stands upright on the shoulders. The shoulders 77 are slightly inclined for a purpose yet to be described.

The plunger 73 of the orientating gate is provided with three rigid fingers 1, 2 and 3 (FIGS. 6 and 8a, b, c, and d) which depend from the plunger 73 through a longitudinal slot 4 formed between and co-extensive with the passage 78 and the upper channel portion 79. Two of the fingers 1 and 2 are located respectively on either side of the plunger hole 75 and reach into the upper channel portion 79, whereas the third and longest finger 3 is located at the forward end of the plunger 73 and reaches into the mouth of the lower channel portion 80. Hence, as will be seen from the diagrammatic FIG. 8d, when a cartridge falls nose foremost into the lower channel 80 and the plunger 73 is driven from the advanced position (FIG. 8a), the longer finger contacts the base of cartridge 44 and pushes it along the shoulders 77 until it reaches and falls into an outlet passage 81 in the underside of the body 72. However, when a cartridge 44 falls base foremost into the upper channel 79 (FIGS. 8a and 86) it stands nose upwards on the inclined shoulders 77 with its nose disposed between the two shorter fingers 1 and 2. Consequently, when the plunger 73 is driven from the advanced towards the retracted position (FIGS. 8b and 8c), the shorter finger 2 located forwardly of the hole 75, contacts the nose, tilts the cartridge upon the longitudinal shoulders 77 so that the nose contacts and rides down the other of the shorter fingers l, assisted by incline of said shoulders, whereupon its nose falls into the lower channel portion 80 and it is suspended by its rim around its base on the shoulders 77 and is then pushed along the channel by the longer finger 3 until it reaches and falls into the outlet passage 81. Therefore, irrespectively, of whether any cartridge enters the plunger hole 75 nose or base foremost, it always enters nose foremost into the outlet passage 81.

The outlet passage 81 opens into the rear end of a horizontal passage 82 which is formed in the body 66 of the transfer gate 71 and along which a plunger 83 is reciprocable between retracted and advanced positions and in synchronism with the orientating gate plunger 73, by means of a further double acting pneumatic cylinder 84 located opposite and parallel with the plunger 83.

The transfer gate plunger 83 also has a diametrical hole 85 formed therein. This hole is located in the vicinity of the rear end of the plunger 83 and registers with the outlet passage 81 from the orientating gate 64 when the plunger 83 is in the retracted position (FIGS. 6 and 8a) so that an orientated cartridge 64 in the outlet passage 81 is able to fall and be received in the hole A circumferential channel 86 formed in the wall of the transfer gate passage 82 and in the vicinity of the forward end of the passage is connected to the supply of compressed air via a duct 87 and into the end of the rigid tube 88 attached to the wall of the transfer gate 71. The tube 88 is adapted to be connected to that end of the flexible tube 45 which is remote from the pistol 10. A quick release coupling 89 makes the desired connection.

The end of the plunger 83 of the transfer gate 71 is engaged by a forked end 90 extending laterally from the ram of the air cylinder 84 positioned alongside and parallel to the plunger. When the transfer gate plunger 83 is driven to the advanced position (FIG. 8b), the hole 85 in the plunger is positioned within the circumferential channel 86 and is in axial alignment with the bore of the flexible tube 45 so that any cartridge in the hole may be delivered into and then moved along the tube by compressed air.

Should a foreign body of greater length than a standard cartridge find its way into the feed unit mechanism it will bridge" the outlet passage 81 and the hole 85 in the transfer gate and consequently stop the plunger 83. For this reason a plug 96 is provided which can be unscrewed for the removal of the foreign body.

The aforementioned outer sleeve 67 reciprocal on the tube 65 serves as a cartridge anti-bridging" device. That is to say it prevents cartridges from becoming wedged across the hopper outlet 6. Thus each time the ram of the air cylinder is extended, the sleeve 67 moves vertically and its nose protrudes into the base of the hopper and joggles the cartridges 44 in the hopper outlet 6. This action causes cartridges to enter the tube 65.

With reference to the circuit diagram of FIG. 9 it will be seen that the four-way pilot valve 63 for controlling the operation of the feed unit 60 has a main inlet 91, two secondary pilot inlets 92 and 93 and two outlets 94 and 95. The main inlet 91 is connected to the compressed air source 7 via a pressure reducer 97, pressure regulator 101 and air filters 103 and 102 positioned upstream and downstream respectively of the regulator. One of the secondary pilot inlets 92 is connected to the flexible tube 45, which might consist of 20 feet of polyurethane tube for example, downstream of the transfer gate 71, and therefore, is supplied with air at the same pressure as that existing in the tube 45. The other secondary pilot inlet 93 is connected to the compressed air supply 7 through a pressure reducer 104 and is supplied with air at a predetermined pressure below the supply pressure and therefore below that pressure in the pilot inlet 92. The outlets 94 and are connected respectively, into opposite ends of each of the pneumatic cylinders 70, 74, and 84 by means of manifolds 98. Exhaust connections 105 and 106 from the four-way valve 63 receive exhaust air from the air cylinders 70, 74, and 84 and vent it to atmosphere through outlets 107 and 108 on the downstream side of flow restrictions 99 and 100, according to the stroke of the pistons in the air cylinders 70, 74 and 84. A flow restrictor 109 is positioned in a branch pipe 110 leading from a three-way connection 112 to the transfer gate 71 and receives air at supply pressure which is in the region of 80 pounds per square inch, a second branch pipe 111 takes air at supply pressure to the pressure reducer 104 where it is reduced to approximately 70 pounds per square inch as is the case of air continuing in the main feed pipe 8.

Thus it will be seen that when the valve 27 in the pistol is closed, air in the pilot inlet 92 will be at supply pressure which is slightly higher than that in the secondary pilot inlet 93 which has passed through the reducer 104 and has been reduced to said predetermined pressure of 70 pounds per square inch. This difference in pressure conditions the four-way valve 63 to deliver air from the main inlet 91 to the outlet 94 and thence to the forward end 70, 74' and 84 of each of the cylinders 70, 74 and 84 operating the plungers of the orientating and transfer gates 64 and 71 so that both plungers 73 and 83 are in the retracted position shown in FIG. 6, and to the lower end of the air cylinder 70 of the anti-bridging device so that its piston is at the limit of its upward travel and the sleeve 67 is protruding into the hopper 61.

Immediately the normally closed valve 27 in the pistol is opened, the resulting flow of air from the flexible tube 45 reduces the pressure in the tube to a value less than the predetermined pressure in the secondary inlet 93 and the four-way valve 63 is changed over so that it is conditioned to deliver air to the outlet 95 and the rear end of each of the cylinders 70, 74 and 84. At the same time the ends 70', 74 and 84' of the air cylinders 70, 74 and 84 are connected to atmosphere through the exhaust connections 105 and 106 and outlets 107 and 108 respectively. Hence, because of the presence of the flow restrictors 99 and 100, both the plungers 73 and 83 are driven smoothly to their extended positions and the tube 67 is retracted. Thus any cartridge in thehole 85 in the transfer gate 71 is delivered rapidly into the bore of the feed tube 45.

The re-closing of the normally closed valve 27 allows the pressure in the tube 45 to return to its original value and the four-way valve 71 is changed back to its initial condition.

Since the anti-bridging device 67 ensures that cartridges in the hopper 61 are able to enter the vertical tube65 between the hopper discharge throat 6 and the orientating gate 64, when the piston driving the device 67 is at the limit of its downwards travel, the tube 65 is always filled with cartridges 44 until such time as the batch in the hopper is exhausted. Consequently, a cartridge is delivered from the tube 65 into the orientating gate 64 each time the plunger 73 of the gate is retracted (H65. 6 and 8a), it then falls into the channel 79 of the gate as the plunger is driven to the advancedposition (FIG. 8b). The cartridge is then orientated, if necessary, and delivered through the hole 81 into the plunger 83 of the transfer gate 71 when the orientating gate plunger 73 moves to the retracted position (FIG. 8a), and is delivered into the flexible tube 45 the next time the transfer gate plunger 83 is driven to the extended position (FIG. 8b). After being delivered into the tube 45 and after the re-closing of the valve 27, the cartridge is fed along the bore of the tube 45 due to the leakage of air between the anchored end of the feed tube 47 and the breech block 12. Thus each time the breech block is rotated to the loading position FIG. 3 a cartridge immediately enters the chamber 19 and the pistol can be used continuously without any need for the operator to handle the cartridges.

It will be appreciated that several modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. For example the auxiliary chamber 23 could be arranged with its axis parallel to the breech block 12 or at any convenient angle thereto. Also, either the ball 25 and magnet 28 may be omitted and the firing pin 21 adapted to be driven against the cartridge base by a pulse of compressed air, or the firing pin may be omitted and the ball may be impelled into direct impact with the cartridge base to explode the same.

In another arrangement the trigger mechanism 43 may be omitted and the shaft 33 connected to a pressure pad which triggers the pistol when it is forced into contact with the animals head.

It will be further appreciated that the rate of operating the mechanism can be controlled by adjusting the operating pressure of the pressure regulator 101 and pressure reducers 97 and 104.

I claim:

1. A pistol device for use in the killing or stunning of animals comprising: a body portion, a barrel supported on the body portion housing a captive bolt and a breech block which is located at one end of the barrel and is movable relative to the body portion, said breech block having a cartridge chamber communicating with the one end of the barrel, means defining an elongate auxiliary chamber containing pneumatically movable c'artridge firing means, the auxiliary chamber having means connecting one end thereof to a compressed gas source through a normally closed valve and means to open said valve, the other end of said auxiliary chamber registering with the cartridge chamber when in operating position and when connected to said source and said valve is opened compressed gas is injected into the auxiliary chamber behind said movable cartridge firing means which is impelled to the other end of said auxiliary chamber to provide an impact force on a cartridge within the cartridge chamber in order to fire, such cartridge.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a movable firing pin is located in the wall of the body portion adjacent to the breech block and in the same plane as the cartridge chamber, one end of the firing pin being exposed in the end of the auxiliary chamber so that in use of the device when the valve is opened said movable cartridge firing means is impelled against the firing pin which is forced inwardly to engage the end ofa cartridge in the cartridge chamber.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a magnet is located adjacent to that end of the auxiliary chamber to which said connection is made and serves to hold said movable cartridge firing means at that end of the auxiliary chamber when the valve is closed.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the body supports a tubular cartridge magazine one end of which is held in slidable engagement with the breech block in the same plane as the cartridge chamber and the other end of which is connected to said pressure source, the diameter of the magazine being consistent with the diameter of the base of the cartridge.

5. The device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the breech block is rotatable to loading, firing and ejecting positions and when rotated to the loading position that end of the magazine which engages the breech block is in axial alignment with the cartridge chamber and makes an imperfect seal therewith and so causes a pressure difference between the cartridge chamber and the magazine which drives a cartridge along the tube and into the cartridge chamber so that some of the pressured gas escapes to atmosphere between the end of the magazine and the breech block.

6. The device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the breech block includes an extractor rod for spent cartridge cases which is slidable in a substantially radially directed bore within the block, and wherein a second smaller bore extends radially between the rod bore and the periphery of the block so that when the block is rotated to said ejecting position the smaller bore is aligned with the end of the magazine and provides a gas passage which in use directs gas into the rod bore and thereby causes the extractor rod to move axially and to impel the spent cartridge outwardly from the block.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the normally closed valve is opened by manually operated trigger means mounted on said body portion.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1 in combination with pneumatically operated cartridge feed means for feeding cartridges successively into a magazine connected to the pistol, wherein said magazine combrises a tube one end of which slidably engages the breech block in the same plane as the cartridge chamber and the other end of which is connected to a gas pressure source and to said feed means, the feed means comprising a hopper, cartridge orientating means and cartridge transfer means, the hopper having a substantially vertical outlet mounted over the cartridge orientating means and the cartridge transfer means, said orientating means comprising a first reciprocable device for receiving cartridges successively from the hopper outlet and tilt means which functions to tilt any cartridge received base first by the first reciprocable device into opposite orientation, and said transfer means comprising a second reciprocable device for receiving a cartridge from the orientating means and for transferring the same nose first into said tube.

9. The combination as claimed in claim 8 wherein the feed means ia automatically operated by control means responsive to the operation of said normally closed valve on the pistol device.

10. The combination as claimed in claim 9 wherein said tube comprises a rigid portion at that end which slidably engages the breech block and the other end of said rigid portion is connected to a flexible portion which is in turn connected to said transfer means.

11. The combination as claimed in claim 10 wherein the first reciprocable device comprises a first horizontal pneumatically driven plunger which is slidable in a first channel member having an outlet leading to ramp means, said first plunger being provided with a radial hole for receiving a cartridge from the hopper outlet, said tilt means comprises at least two spaced downwardly extending fingers of different lengths fixed to the first plunger which are positioned adjacent to the radial hole and extend into a longitudinal slot in the channel member and towards said ramp means, said ramp means being co-extensive with the first plunger and provided with a pair of cartridge supporting rails and an outlet which receives an orientated cartridge, and said second reciprocable device comprises a second horizontal pneumatically driven plunger slidable in a second channel member and having a radial hole for receiving a cartridge from the ramp outlet, the second channel member being provided with an outlet beneath the second plunger communicating with said tube and with the source of compressed gas, the arrangement being such that said first reciprocable plunger is operable between first and second spaced positions in which its radial hole is axially aligned with the hopper outlet and with the first channel outlet leading to said ramp means respectively and said second reciprocable plunger is operable between first and second spaced positions in which its radial hole is aligned with the outlet from said ramp means and the second channel outlet communicating with said tube respectively, so that, in use, a cartridge received in the radial hole of the first plunger is moved to a position where it falls through the outlet leading to said ramp means and on the return stroke of the first plunger, should the cartridge be standing nose upwards on said pair of rails it is engaged by a shorter one of said fingers and is tilted nose downwards thereby to be supported between the rails by the rim around its base whereupon it is engaged by a longer one of said fingers and delivered nose downwards into the ramp outlet and when the radial hole in the second plunger is aligned with the ramp outlet it receives the oriented cartridge and delivers it into the outlet of the second channel member communicating with said tube where it is subjected to the gas pressure of said source.

12. The combination as claimed in claim 11 wherein said tilt means comprises three fingers, two shorter fingers being positioned on either side of the radial hole in the first plunger and which, in use, tilt a cartridge standing nose uppermost on the ramp and a third longer finger which extends into the space between said supporting rails and is of such length that it will contact a cartridge supported nose downwards in the ramp and slide into the ramp outlet.

13. The combination as claimed in claim 9 wherein the feed means includes a third pneumatically reciprocable device slidable in the hopper outlet which is also responsive to said control means and which upon the opening of said normally closed valve extends into the lower part of the hopper for the purpose of preventing cartridges jamming the hopper outlet and stopping the flow of cartridges therefrom.

14. The combination as claimed in claim 13 wherein the third reciprocable device comprises a vertical sleeve for receiving cartridges from the hopper which slides over a fixed tube the lower end of which terminates adjacent to the horizontal face of said first plunger.

15. The combination as claimed in claim 13 wherein the reciprocable devices are actuated by means of air cylinders and said control means comprises a pneumatic circuit including a four-way valve which senses a pressure drop in said feed tube occurring when said normally closed valve is opened and causes the first, second and third reciprocable devices to move from one extreme position to the other and deliver a cartridge to said tube.

16. The combination as claimed in claim 15 wherein the breech block is movable between loading, firing and ejecting positions and wherein said tube makes an imperfect seal with the cartridge chamber and thereby causes a pressure differential between upstream portions of the tube and the cartridge chamber each time the breech is turned to the loading position and so motivates the cartridges into the chamber. 

1. A pistol device for use in the killing or stunning of animals comprising: a body portion, a barrel supported on the body portion housing a captive bolt and a breech block which is located at one end of the barrel and is movable relative to the body portion, said breech block having a cartridge chamber communicating with the one end of the barrel, means defining an elongate auxiliary chamber containing pneumatically movable cartridge firing means, the auxiliary chamber having means connecting one end thereof to a compressed gas source through a normally closed valve and means to open said valve, the other end of said auxiliary chamber registering with the cartridge chamber when in operating position and when connected to said source and said valve is opened compressed gas is injected into the auxiliary chamber behind said movable cartridge firing means which is impelled to the other end of said auxiliary chamber to provide an impact force on a cartridge within the cartridge chamber in order to fire, such cartridge.
 2. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a movable firing pin is located in the wall of the body portion adjacent to the breech block and in the same plane as the cartridge chamber, one end of the firing pin being exposed in the end of the auxiliary chamber so that in use of the device when the valve is opened said movable cartridge firing means is impelled against the firing pin which is forced inwardly to engage the end of a cartridge in the cartridge chamber.
 3. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a magnet is located adjacent to that end of the auxiliary chamber to which said connection is made and serves to hold said movable cartridge firing means at that end of the auxiliary chamber when the valve is closed.
 4. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the body supports a tubular cartridge magazine one end of which is held in slidable engagement with the breech block in the same plane as the cartridge chamber and the other end of which is connected to said pressure source, the diameter of the magazine being consistent with the diameter of the base of the cartridge.
 5. The device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the breech block is rotatable to loading, firing and ejecting positions and when rotated to the loading position that end of the magazine which engages the breech block is in axial alignment with the cartridge chamber and makes an imperfect seal therewith and so causes a pressure difference between the cartridge chamber and the magazine which drives a cartridge along the tube and into the cartridge chamber so that some of the pressured gas escapes to atmosphere between the end of the magazine and the breech block.
 6. The device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the breech block includes an extractor rod for spent cartridge cases which is slidable in a substantially radially directed bore within the block, and wherein a second smaller bore extends radially between the rod bore and the periphery of the block so that when the block is rotated to said ejecting position the smaller bore is aligned with the end of the magazine and provides a gas passage which in use directs gas iNto the rod bore and thereby causes the extractor rod to move axially and to impel the spent cartridge outwardly from the block.
 7. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the normally closed valve is opened by manually operated trigger means mounted on said body portion.
 8. The device as claimed in claim 1 in combination with pneumatically operated cartridge feed means for feeding cartridges successively into a magazine connected to the pistol, wherein said magazine comprises a tube one end of which slidably engages the breech block in the same plane as the cartridge chamber and the other end of which is connected to a gas pressure source and to said feed means, the feed means comprising a hopper, cartridge orientating means and cartridge transfer means, the hopper having a substantially vertical outlet mounted over the cartridge orientating means and the cartridge transfer means, said orientating means comprising a first reciprocable device for receiving cartridges successively from the hopper outlet and tilt means which functions to tilt any cartridge received base first by the first reciprocable device into opposite orientation, and said transfer means comprising a second reciprocable device for receiving a cartridge from the orientating means and for transferring the same nose first into said tube.
 9. The combination as claimed in claim 8 wherein the feed means is automatically operated by control means responsive to the operation of said normally closed valve on the pistol device.
 10. The combination as claimed in claim 9 wherein said tube comprises a rigid portion at that end which slidably engages the breech block and the other end of said rigid portion is connected to a flexible portion which is in turn connected to said transfer means.
 11. The combination as claimed in claim 10 wherein the first reciprocable device comprises a first horizontal pneumatically driven plunger which is slidable in a first channel member having an outlet leading to ramp means, said first plunger being provided with a radial hole for receiving a cartridge from the hopper outlet, said tilt means comprises at least two spaced downwardly extending fingers of different lengths fixed to the first plunger which are positioned adjacent to the radial hole and extend into a longitudinal slot in the channel member and towards said ramp means, said ramp means being co-extensive with the first plunger and provided with a pair of cartridge supporting rails and an outlet which receives an orientated cartridge, and said second reciprocable device comprises a second horizontal pneumatically driven plunger slidable in a second channel member and having a radial hole for receiving a cartridge from the ramp outlet, the second channel member being provided with an outlet beneath the second plunger communicating with said tube and with the source of compressed gas, the arrangement being such that said first reciprocable plunger is operable between first and second spaced positions in which its radial hole is axially aligned with the hopper outlet and with the first channel outlet leading to said ramp means respectively and said second reciprocable plunger is operable between first and second spaced positions in which its radial hole is aligned with the outlet from said ramp means and the second channel outlet communicating with said tube respectively, so that, in use, a cartridge received in the radial hole of the first plunger is moved to a position where it falls through the outlet leading to said ramp means and on the return stroke of the first plunger, should the cartridge be standing nose upwards on said pair of rails it is engaged by a shorter one of said fingers and is tilted nose downwards thereby to be supported between the rails by the rim around its base whereupon it is engaged by a longer one of said fingers and delivered nose downwards into the ramp outlet and when the radial hole in the second plunger is aligned with the ramp outlet it receives the oriented cartridge and delivers it intO the outlet of the second channel member communicating with said tube where it is subjected to the gas pressure of said source.
 12. The combination as claimed in claim 11 wherein said tilt means comprises three fingers, two shorter fingers being positioned on either side of the radial hole in the first plunger and which, in use, tilt a cartridge standing nose uppermost on the ramp and a third longer finger which extends into the space between said supporting rails and is of such length that it will contact a cartridge supported nose downwards in the ramp and slide into the ramp outlet.
 13. The combination as claimed in claim 9 wherein the feed means includes a third pneumatically reciprocable device slidable in the hopper outlet which is also responsive to said control means and which upon the opening of said normally closed valve extends into the lower part of the hopper for the purpose of preventing cartridges jamming the hopper outlet and stopping the flow of cartridges therefrom.
 14. The combination as claimed in claim 13 wherein the third reciprocable device comprises a vertical sleeve for receiving cartridges from the hopper which slides over a fixed tube the lower end of which terminates adjacent to the horizontal face of said first plunger.
 15. The combination as claimed in claim 13 wherein the reciprocable devices are actuated by means of air cylinders and said control means comprises a pneumatic circuit including a four-way valve which senses a pressure drop in said feed tube occurring when said normally closed valve is opened and causes the first, second and third reciprocable devices to move from one extreme position to the other and deliver a cartridge to said tube.
 16. The combination as claimed in claim 15 wherein the breech block is movable between loading, firing and ejecting positions and wherein said tube makes an imperfect seal with the cartridge chamber and thereby causes a pressure differential between upstream portions of the tube and the cartridge chamber each time the breech is turned to the loading position and so motivates the cartridges into the chamber. 